Buying a New Car Before Diwali 2026: Delivery Dates, Festive vs December Discounts and the Model-Year Trap
By Arjun Ramanarayanan, IndiCar · Published 25 October 2026 · Tips
Dhanteras is on November 6 and Diwali on November 8, 2026. Festival delivery slots fill first, and December brings deeper cash discounts along with the model-year trap.
If you want your new car home on Dhanteras (Friday, November 6) or Diwali (Sunday, November 8), lock in the variant and colour now, because delivery slots on festival days fill up first. If the date matters less than the price, December has historically offered the deepest cash discounts. Those discounts often come on cars built earlier in the year, and in 2026 most carmakers raised prices by 2 to 3 percent from January 1.
Key dates for Diwali 2026
Dhanteras falls on Friday, November 6, and Diwali on Sunday, November 8. Delivery slots on festival days fill first, so book early if you want one of those dates.
The Dhanteras puja muhurat in New Delhi runs from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. In cities further west, such as Mumbai, sunset comes roughly half an hour later and the muhurat shifts with it.
Delivery timing and waiting periods
One Maruti dealer advises booking at least 15 to 20 days before your preferred delivery date to secure the slot. Slots on Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali go first, especially for popular variants. Deliveries for cars booked during Diwali could run into November or even December, depending on the model and colour.
Waiting periods reported for popular models:
| Model | Reported waiting period |
|---|---|
| Maruti Grand Vitara | 1 month |
| Maruti Wagon R | 1 month |
| Tata Nexon | 1 to 2 months |
| Maruti Brezza | Up to 2 months |
| Mahindra Thar | 1 to 3 months |
| Mahindra Scorpio-N | 1 to 4 months |
A one-month wait already pushes a Grand Vitara or Wagon R booking close to the festival dates. With the Scorpio-N or Thar, a Diwali delivery depends on stock already being in place. IndiCar confirms the stock, the delivery date and the written on-road breakup before you book.
What festive offers are worth
Festive offers carry deadlines and fine print. Some Maruti Arena offers required booking by 10 October and delivery by 20 October 2026. One Maruti dealer's listings show promotions running through October 31, 2026, subject to terms and conditions.
| Model | Listed festive benefit |
|---|---|
| Maruti Swift | Up to Rs 80,000 |
| Maruti Grand Vitara and Victoris, selected strong-hybrid versions | Up to Rs 1.95 lakh |
| Maruti Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid, headline benefit | Rs 3.10 lakh, of which Rs 1.85 lakh is a zero-road-tax benefit |
Read the headline figure closely. On the Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid, more than half of the Rs 3.10 lakh is the road-tax benefit, not a cash discount. Actual savings depend on the model, variant, location, stock and eligibility conditions.
Festive or December discounts
December usually gives the bigger cash discount. One guide rates December's discount level as very high and says remaining model-year stock is cleared then, which produces the deepest pure cash discounts. Another expects December 2026 discounts of Rs 35,000 to Rs 1,80,000.
Carmakers usually raise prices at the start of each year, so the end of the year is likely the last chance to buy at the old price. For 2026, most raised prices by 2 to 3 percent from January 1.
- Buy for the festival if a Dhanteras or Diwali delivery matters to you and your model's wait is short. Check how much of the offer is cash and how much is a tax benefit.
- Wait for December if the lowest cash price matters most and you are open on colour and variant. Expect the remaining stock to lean towards cars built earlier in the year.
The model-year trap
A car built in one calendar year becomes old stock once the next January arrives. One guide gives the example of a 2025-built car and says old stock carries a stigma that makes it harder to sell. The early manufacturing year is reported to affect resale value only slightly.
The trade-off shows in one guide's example: a 2025 model-year Mahindra XUV700 with up to Rs 2 lakh off, against perhaps Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 on a 2026 model-year car. If you plan to sell within a few years, the stigma counts against an old-year car. If you plan to keep the car for a long time, the slight resale effect matters less and the larger discount deserves a serious look.
Maharashtra road tax and other charges
In Maharashtra, road tax is charged on the ex-showroom price, in bands, and diesel cars pay 2 percentage points more:
| Ex-showroom price | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| Up to Rs 10 lakh | 11% | 13% |
| Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh | 12% | 14% |
| Above Rs 20 lakh | 13% | 15% |
- A 2 percent road safety cess applies on the tax amount.
- Registration fee: Rs 600. HSRP plate: Rs 1,100.
- Hypothecation: Rs 1,500, only if the car is financed.
- TCS is reported at 1% of the price for cars priced above Rs 10 lakh.
- Under the state's Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, EVs sold and registered in Maharashtra during the policy period are exempt from motor vehicle tax.
You can run these charges for any model with the on-road price calculator, or compare models on the new car on-road price list.
Sources: Maruti Suzuki Navratri & Diwali Offers 2026, Diwali Car Offers 2026: Maruti, Tata, Honda Discounts, Best Time to Buy a Car in India 2026: Months & Discounts
Buying a new car through IndiCar
IndiCar arranges new-car purchases in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. You book a new car on IndiCar at the on-road price shown on its car page, with the full price breakup: ex-showroom, RTO registration, insurance, TCS and FASTag. You book online with a refundable reservation, and IndiCar sources the car from partner dealer stock and handles the registration, insurance, paperwork and delivery.
You deal only with IndiCar from quote to delivery. Your phone number is never passed to a dealer, and you do not need to take the quote to a showroom to negotiate. See on-road prices and book or get a WhatsApp quote on +91 85916 41004.
Frequently asked questions
When are Dhanteras and Diwali in 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday, November 6, and Diwali is on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
How early should I book for a Dhanteras delivery?
One Maruti dealer advises booking at least 15 to 20 days before your preferred delivery date. Slots on Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali fill first, especially for popular variants.
Are December discounts bigger than festive ones?
One guide rates December's discount level as very high, with the deepest pure cash discounts as remaining model-year stock is cleared. Another expects December 2026 discounts of Rs 35,000 to Rs 1,80,000.
Is a festive headline benefit all cash?
Not always. The Rs 3.10 lakh headline benefit on the Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid includes a Rs 1.85 lakh zero-road-tax benefit. Actual savings depend on model, variant, location, stock and eligibility conditions.
What is the model-year trap?
A car built in one calendar year becomes old stock once the next January arrives. It may carry a stigma at resale, though the early manufacturing year is reported to affect resale value only slightly.
What road tax applies to a petrol car in Maharashtra?
11% up to Rs 10 lakh, 12% from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and 13% above Rs 20 lakh, on the ex-showroom price, plus a 2 percent road safety cess on the tax amount. Diesel cars pay 13%, 14% and 15%.
Tags: diwali 2026, car buying, festive discounts, year end discounts, road tax, waiting period